Shelf support clip

ABSTRACT

A one-piece shelf support clip for use with a support having a plurality of spaced apertures to maintain a second member, i.e., a shelf, in mounted relation to the support. The clip includes hook-like prong means to engage the aperture support; anti rotation means; slot means for accepting a vertical flange of the shelf and spring means for engaging the shelf and support to maintain them in rattle free mounted relation.

United States Patent [1 1 Sharp SHELF SUPPORT CLIP [75] Inventor: Larry L. Sharp, Schaumburg, 111.

[731 Assignees Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago,

[22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1973 [21] Appl. No.1 419,324

[52] U.S. Cl. 248/243; 108/108; 248/250 [51] Int. Cl. A47B 29/02 [58] Field of Search 248/243, 241, 242, 244,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,839,350 6/1958 Hill et al. 248/243 3,081,717 3/1963 Yurevich 248/243 3,203,375 8/1965 Schroeder 108/108 [451 July 22, 1975 3,299,839 1/1967 Nordbak 211/148 3,536,015 10/1970 Textoris..... 248/243 3,570,798 3/1971 Squibb 248/243 Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Hafer Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert W. Heart; J. R. Halvorsen [57] ABSTRACT A one-piece shelf support clip for use with a support having a plurality of spaced apertures to maintain a second member, Le, a shelf. in mounted relation to the support. The clip includes hook-like prong means to engage the aperture support; anti rotation means; slot means for accepting a vertical flange of the shelf and spring means for engaging the shelf and support to maintain them in rattle free mounted relation.

15 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHELF SUPPORT CLIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The technique of supporting a plurality of shelves in mounted relation to apertured vertical support memhers is generally old in the art. Examples of such devices can be found in US. Letters Pat. issued to Levene, No. 1,343,327; Brann, No. 3,167,609; Yurevich, No. 3,081,717; Gray et al, No. 3,522,920 and Textoris, No. 3,536,015. Many such prior devices involve complex combinations in which a multiplicity of parts are necessary to maintain shelving in mounted relation to the supports. Additionally, such prior art devices generally do not permit utilization of the same aperture for mounting of shelves to extend in opposite directions from a signle support, or, alternatively, require secondary mating elements which increase the inventory of the user by necessitating the stocking of a multiplicity of different parts.

Further, most of the prior art does not make provision for differences in manufacturing tolerances and hence do not insure the rattle free secure mounting relative to the support.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION -The shelf support clip contemplated by this invention includes a one-piece device which can be economically fabricated from sheet material and which can be readily installed by manual manipulation in any one of a plurality of apertures in a support member. A plurality of such clips are designed to support a flanged shelf in relation to a vertical support member and are adapted to be acceptable with a second member on the opposite side of the support in the same apertures utilized by a first clip. Spring means are provided for maintaining the clip in rattle free relation to the support and for engaging the shelf to maintain it in rattle free relation to the clip and hence the support. Another feature of the present invention is lateral stability relative to the vertical support by means of an anti rotation means.

Other advantages of the present invention will be found in the drawings and in the complete specifica- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS SPECIFICATION A clip of the type contemplated by the present invention is normally utilized with a vertical support 12 having a plurality of spaced apertures 14 and 16, with the clip adapted to support a shelf 18 having a peripheral depending flange 20 of a type commonly known to the trade.

The clip struck from within its margins a 10 includes a plate-like base 24 having hook-shaped locking prong 26 extending generally normal to the base 24 and an anti rotation means 28 extending in the same direction as prong 26. The hook 26 includes a canted lower edge 30, a tapered upper edge 32, and a back edge 34 spaced from the base 24 for purposes of engaging on the back side of the upright 12. The anti rotation means 28 has its upper surface 36 cammed with its lower surface 38 projecting substantially normal to base 24 for purposes best set forth hereinafter.

Extending outwardly along the edge of base 24, in a direction opposite to hook-like member 26, are one or more shelf engaging means or flanges 40 which are substantially normal and integral with base 24. Each of the flanges 40, in this embodiment, progressively increase in height from one end of the base 24 and continue upwardly and outwardly away therefrom by means of extensions 42 which project beyond the end margin of base 24 in atapered spaced relationship to thereby form a tapering wide mouth slot between the under surface 44 of the extension 42 and the upright 12 when a clip is in mounted position.

Extending outwardly from the base 24 in the same direction as the extensions 42 is a spring means 50 having a first section 52 extending upwardly and away from the base 24 toward the extension 42 and a second section 54 which extends in the opposite direction toward the plane in which base 24 is located. The spring means 50 is disposed within the confines of the slot 46 with its bend line or high point 56 being used in the fashion described hereinafter. If desired an aperture 58 can be provided in the first portion 52 for purposes described hereinafter.

The upright or support member 12 is provided with a plurality of sequentially spaced apertures 14 and 16. In the present embodiment the larger aperture 14 is a generally four lobe hole formed by two ellipses disposed at to one another. While this is a preferred form the clip can also be utilized with a circular aperture having a diameter equal to the major measurement of the ellipses. Axially spaced from the four lobed aperture is a smaller round aperture 16. The hook-shaped prong 26 is moved in the direction of the upright support 12 until its upper cam surface 32 engages the upper edge of the aperture 14. This permits the lower cammed edge 30 to clear the opposite edge of the aperture 14 and to draw the clip 10 in a generally downward direction. This downward movement is further enhanced by the engagement of the upper surface 36 of anti rotation means 28 with the upper edge of aperture 16. This movement is continued until the back edge 34 of prong 26 clears the opposite side of the upright support 12 and thence permits axial movement downwardly into latched relationship. A slight force is exerted against the clip in the direction toward the upright support 12 to compress the spring means 50 as it bears on the front surface of the support 12 opposite to that engaged by back edge 34. It will be noted that the lower lobe of the aperture 14, as viewed in the drawings, will tend to center the clip within the apertures. Similarly, it should be noted that the hook-like prong 26 and the anti rotation means 28 are disposed and engage slightly off the center line of the base 24 and aperture 14, respectively, for purposes set forth hereinafter.

To insert a shelf 18, the flange 20 is axially moved into the slot 46 until its lower edge bears on the inner or under surface 44 of extensions 42 with the absolute maximum of downward movement of flange 20 being limited by the upper end 45 of the flange 40. It will be noted, as shown in phantom in FIG. 2, that this will tend to flex the spring means 50 by the flange bearing against high point 56 causing the spring means to be bent into a more linear relationship from its initial position. This insures contact of the shelf with the inner edge 44 and the base 45 of the slot 46 and insures engagement with the support 12 by drawing the hookshaped prong 26 with its rear back engaging edge 34 into intimate relationship with the upright support 12. Thus, there is provided a balanced force against the support insuring stability of the clip by intimate contact of the base 24 with the upright 12. The anti rotation means 28 prevents cocking of the clip when any rotational forces might be applied against either end of the clip in a transverse direction. If absolute security is demanded, a bolt or other fastening means, not shown, can be introduced through the aperture 58 into the next adjacent aperture 16 to insure a positive engagement against vertical dislodgement. The aperture 58 also serves to provide spring resilience to the portion 52 since the remainder of the clip is substantially rigid. This removal of material, by creating a thin sidewall portion on either side of aperture 58, thereby provides the spring means required for the anti-rattle maintenance of the clip and shelf relative to the support 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, and keeping in mind the previous statement that the prong 26 and anti rotation means 28 are slightly offset to one side of the center line of base 24, it can be seen that a pair of clips 10 can be disposed on opposite sides of an upright support 12 and additionally be accommodated within the same apertures. Thus, with identical clips, it is possible to maintain shelves in adjacent bays of shelving at identical levels without supplementary or secondary means such as multi-piece parts, secondary hole engagement,

etc.

is felt that the preferred embodiment which has been shown is an economical one-piece clip which can be fabricated from sheetmetal and readily installed by manual manipulation for the accommodation of nor mally available shelving material. It can be used individually or in pairs for maintaining shelving in adjacent bays at the same elevation. It can-be made secure by a secondary fastener or, because of its gravitational location, is adequate to support extensive loads, due to its beam strength without supplementary fastening means. The only function of a secondary fastener is to prevent dislodgement by application of an upwardly directed force which might disengage the hook 26 from engagement withthe aperture '14. it should be noted that the supports 12 can be provided with sequentially spaced apertures 14 and 16 along their entire length as well as having apertures in the adjacent side or leg, not shown, which have been omitted for clarity in drafting, which makes it possible for each support to be cut to desired lengths for specific applications. Additionally, common supports for multiple by installations may take a T configuration. Other modifications to the preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A support assembly including a vertical support member, a flanged shelf and a one piece shelf support clip for use in supporting said flanged shelf relativeto' said vertical support member said vertical support member having a plurality of spaced apertures for selectively accepting said clip in a multiplicity of posiwherein said prong is positioned in a vertical plane that direction from said prong, and resilient means extending from said base and located between the flange of said shelf and said support and engaging both said support and said shelf to maintain said prong and shelf in mounted rattle-free condition.

2. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said prong is struck from within the margins of said base and extends generally normal thereto.

3. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 2 wherein said rotation preventing means is also struck from the confines of said base in spaced relation to said prong.

4. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said shelf engaging means includes a pair of flanges extending outwardly from opposite edges of said base and including portions extending beyond the upper end of said base. and presenting edges spaced from the plane in which said base is positioned and forming a slot into which a depending shelf flange is supportively acceptable. v I

5. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilient means includes an axial extension of said base that extends angularly to an intermediate transverse bend which projects into said slot to bear against the shelf flange and then extends angularly in wardly to a free end extending beyond the plane of the base to resiliently bear against the vertical support member to insure engagement of said hook-like prong with the backside of said support. a

.6. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 2 is laterally offset from the median vertical centerline of said base.

7. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said base is relieved adjacent said offset prong whereby a pair of clips can bepositioned in the same apertures on opposite sides of said support to maintain a pair ofshelves extending in opposite directions at the same elevation on said support.

8. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 6 in which said base lies, diverging outwardly to its free end terminating in an end edge which lies substantially normal to said plane, whereby said diverging second portion and said support form a tapered slot for acceptance of a shelf flange.

10. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 9 wherein said base is relieved to accept the prong of another clip when inserted from the opposite side of said support.

11. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 10 wherein said base includes a pair of strap-like members positioned at opposite ends and extending between and connecting the flanges, an element extending along one flange and connecting said straps in spaced relation, said element carrying said prong and said rotation preventing means.

12. A support assembly including a vertical support member, a flanged shelf and a one piece sheet metal shelf supporting clip for use in supporting said flanged shelf relative to said vertical support member, said vertical support member having a plurality of different sized apertures disposed in spaced serially alternating spaced relation along said support for selectively accepting said clip in a multiplicity of positions, said clip including a base portion, adapted to rest on said support member, a hook shaped locking prong struck from said base portion and bent to a position substantially normal to said base portion, and engaged in one of said apertures, anti-rotation means struck from said base portion and engaging a second adjacent aperture in said support, a pair of flange means positioned along opposite sides of said base portion and extend substantially normal thereto in the opposite direction from said prong, said flange means including a first portion generally co-extensive with said base portion and a second portion extending therefrom and having at least one edge spaced from in diverging relation to the plane in which said base portion is positioned to provide a tapered slot between said edge and the support means when the clip is attached thereto, said tapered edge ter minating in an end edge generally normal to said plane, said slot accepting the flange in said shelf, and spring means including an extension to said base having a first section angularly diverging from said plane into the said slot and extending to a transverse bend line and a second section extending inwardly from said bend line at least to said plane whereby the free end of said spring means bears against said support while said bend line engages the shelf flange to insure firm engagement of the prong with the support and the shelf flange with said one edge of the clip flange means.

13. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 12 wherein said spring means is apertured in said first section to provide increased resiliency in said spring means and further to provide means for a secondary fastener to be located within said apertured first section and the adjacent aperture in said support to the aperture accepting said prong to thereby insure against dislodgement of said clip relative to said support.

14. A one piece shelf support clip including a platelike base, a hook-shaped locking prong struck from said base and extending outwardly therefrom, rotation preventing means struck from said base, said rotation preventing means axially spaced from said prong and extending in the same direction from said base as said prong, at least one shelf engaging means extending longitudinally along an edge of said base and normal to said base in the opposite direction from said prong and forming a slot between itself and the plane of said base and adapted to accept a shelf flange therein, and resilient means extending from one end of said base in the direction of said slot and disposed first within said slot and thence diverging outwardly therefrom to a point on the opposite side of the plane of said base.

15. A clip of the type claimed in claim 14 wherein said shelf engaging means include a pair of flanges integrally connected along opposite edges of and positioned substantially normal to said base, each flange ex tending freely beyond one end of said base and having a diverging edge facing the plane of said base to form said slot when the clip is mounted by its prong on a suitable support. 

1. A support assembly including a vertical support member, a flanged shelf and a one piece shelf support clip for use in supporting said flanged shelf relative to said vertical support member said vertical support member having a plurality of spaced apertures for selectively accepting said clip in a multiplicity of positions, said clip including a plate-like base, a hookshaped locking prong extending out from said base and engaging one of said apertures, means engaging a second spaced aperture to prevent rotation of said clip and maintain it in vertical alignment, at least one shelf engaging means extending from said base in the opposite direction from said prong, and resilient means extending from said base and located between the flange of said shelf and said support and engaging both said support and said shelf to maintain said prong and shelf in mounted rattlefree condition.
 2. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said prong is struck from within the margins of said base and extends generally normal thereto.
 3. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 2 wherein said rotation preventing means is also struck from the cOnfines of said base in spaced relation to said prong.
 4. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said shelf engaging means includes a pair of flanges extending outwardly from opposite edges of said base and including portions extending beyond the upper end of said base and presenting edges spaced from the plane in which said base is positioned and forming a slot into which a depending shelf flange is supportively acceptable.
 5. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilient means includes an axial extension of said base that extends angularly to an intermediate transverse bend which projects into said slot to bear against the shelf flange and then extends angularly inwardly to a free end extending beyond the plane of the base to resiliently bear against the vertical support member to insure engagement of said hook-like prong with the backside of said support.
 6. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 2 wherein said prong is positioned in a vertical plane that is laterally offset from the median vertical centerline of said base.
 7. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said base is relieved adjacent said offset prong whereby a pair of clips can be positioned in the same apertures on opposite sides of said support to maintain a pair of shelves extending in opposite directions at the same elevation on said support.
 8. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said support includes apertures having different sizes disposed in alternating serial fashion, the larger apertures accepting said prong and the smaller apertures accepting said anti-rotation means.
 9. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said flanges include a first portion co-extensive with the base and a second portion spaced from said base and extending axially from said first portion, the edge of said second portion, facing the plane in which said base lies, diverging outwardly to its free end terminating in an end edge which lies substantially normal to said plane, whereby said diverging second portion and said support form a tapered slot for acceptance of a shelf flange.
 10. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 9 wherein said base is relieved to accept the prong of another clip when inserted from the opposite side of said support.
 11. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 10 wherein said base includes a pair of strap-like members positioned at opposite ends and extending between and connecting the flanges, an element extending along one flange and connecting said straps in spaced relation, said element carrying said prong and said rotation preventing means.
 12. A support assembly including a vertical support member, a flanged shelf and a one piece sheet metal shelf supporting clip for use in supporting said flanged shelf relative to said vertical support member, said vertical support member having a plurality of different sized apertures disposed in spaced serially alternating spaced relation along said support for selectively accepting said clip in a multiplicity of positions, said clip including a base portion, adapted to rest on said support member, a hook shaped locking prong struck from said base portion and bent to a position substantially normal to said base portion, and engaged in one of said apertures, anti-rotation means struck from said base portion and engaging a second adjacent aperture in said support, a pair of flange means positioned along opposite sides of said base portion and extend substantially normal thereto in the opposite direction from said prong, said flange means including a first portion generally co-extensive with said base portion and a second portion extending therefrom and having at least one edge spaced from in diverging relation to the plane in which said base portion is positioned to provide a tapered slot between said edge and the support means when the clip is attached thereto, said tapered edge terminating in an end edge generally normal to said plane, said slot acceptinG the flange in said shelf, and spring means including an extension to said base having a first section angularly diverging from said plane into the said slot and extending to a transverse bend line and a second section extending inwardly from said bend line at least to said plane whereby the free end of said spring means bears against said support while said bend line engages the shelf flange to insure firm engagement of the prong with the support and the shelf flange with said one edge of the clip flange means.
 13. An assembly of the type claimed in claim 12 wherein said spring means is apertured in said first section to provide increased resiliency in said spring means and further to provide means for a secondary fastener to be located within said apertured first section and the adjacent aperture in said support to the aperture accepting said prong to thereby insure against dislodgement of said clip relative to said support.
 14. A one piece shelf support clip including a plate-like base, a hook-shaped locking prong struck from said base and extending outwardly therefrom, rotation preventing means struck from said base, said rotation preventing means axially spaced from said prong and extending in the same direction from said base as said prong, at least one shelf engaging means extending longitudinally along an edge of said base and normal to said base in the opposite direction from said prong and forming a slot between itself and the plane of said base and adapted to accept a shelf flange therein, and resilient means extending from one end of said base in the direction of said slot and disposed first within said slot and thence diverging outwardly therefrom to a point on the opposite side of the plane of said base.
 15. A clip of the type claimed in claim 14 wherein said shelf engaging means include a pair of flanges integrally connected along opposite edges of and positioned substantially normal to said base, each flange extending freely beyond one end of said base and having a diverging edge facing the plane of said base to form said slot when the clip is mounted by its prong on a suitable support. 